How to Quickly Repair A Broken Zipper

I put on these jeans and the zipper broke. In the above picture, the zipper slider came off the zipper track. So, I had to do a quick fix to get the slider back on track. It seems that it should just slide back on to the tape part, but trust me, it’s an impossible task. Plus, I know that to replace the zipper entirely would take awhile. Replacing an entire zipper means that you have to rip the zipper out of the garment. Then, its a detailed process to put in a new one.

So, here’s a quick tutorial on fixing this broken zipper and getting it back on track.

First, you have to get the zipper slider back on track. To do this, cut a slit between the teeth of the zipper tape. It should be a deep open slit so that you’ll be able to insert it into the zipper slider.

Slide the zipper slider all the way down. Insert the slit part into the zipper slider. Zip up.

You’ll notice that there is an opening when zipped. Now, you have to repair this opening so that you’ll be able to slide the zipper up and down without slipping off the track.

Using a needle and thread, you will make a temporary stop for the zipper slider. (Use a matching thread color if possible. I’m using a loud color so that you’ll be able to see this tutorial better.) Start by inserting the needle under the teeth and coming up through on the other side. It’s like a wrap-around sewing technique. Keeping wrapping under and around until you have a thick stop.

Now, you have a temporary fix until you can have your zipper replaced. The best part is that you can zip the zipper up and down. Plus, you now have it back on track!

Have you had to do a quick fix for a garment mishap? Share your story….

Like this article? Sign up to get free email updates to Make It Or Fix It Yourself!

Thank you so much!!!! I bought a pair of pants from Torrid and the zipper popped off the first time I wore them, sink returned them and the same happened with the second pair. I think it was a defect in the pants, because pants of the same size, same store have not had any zipper issues. Thank you so much, I paid like 45 bucks for a pair of pants I thought I’d only be able to wear once… LIFESAVER!

Wow! This really worked. It was so easy to do too. Like another commenter wrote, I cut below the zipper on the bottom. I can wear my favorite jeans again! The local cleaners wanted $25.00 to replace the zipper. Thanks!

So I used this, with a little modification that might help, I snipped it at the very bottom, as my jeans had a little space below the teeth that’s where I snipped it and slid it back in, no sewing needed, worked like a charm thanks

My jeans were missing a tooth on the zipper and so I couldn’t zip them up! It honestly never occurred to me to try this method! You are amazing and thanks for helping me fix my favorite jeans! You are my new superhero!

Hi i am in high school, and i put my pants on and there goes the zipper. Ive always had problems with the zipper but they were ny favorite jeans. Im not sure how long this will last, but im VERY grateful for this

Another thing you can do is push the zipper down as far as it will go after it comes off. Then pull just enough sections maybe 4 to 6 depending on the size of zipper then get it back on track and pull it up a little. Being careful and hold it where you pulled out the sections and then sew it to where the zipper will not go down over that place. And your finished with no cutting. I use my pliers that I have in with my jewelry making kit. Or you can use your husbands.

Thanks so much for fixing my make-up pouch.! It took me five minutes and I always have a sewing kit from numerous hotels I’ve stayed in over the years laying around in random drawers. THIS WAS AWESOME!

Thank you so much for this! Lots of unecessarily difficult broken zip tutorials out there whereas this one is super simple and actually works. I have a very happy son now his Iron Man onesie (bought yesterday!!) is fixed x

This is really cool. I just fixed my black jeans in less than a minute. You can also use a knife if you don’t have scissors. If you don’t want to replace the zipper afterwards, try to cut as low as possible so that the gap under the zipper is smallest.

What a fantastic fix!
This morning our three year old broke a zipper in his dinosaur onesie. I quickly whipped out the sewing kit and had this repair completed. I also sewed a button just above the repair as a buffer so that he won’t run on and break the thread. Thanks for your help.

There was a £65 dress in topshop that i adored, but there was no way id pay for that! it was quite tight, and someone else had broken the zipper just like this up the back, it meant it was put on a deal for £5! i bought it hoping there was some way to fix it, and now i can try this 😀 thank you

Another thing to try, instead of sewing I took a jump ring and used that as a stop.You may need to push a starter hole with a fork tine or awl of some kind but it worked for me as I detest sewing. Just a thought…

I had this problem on covers for a blanket. I just bought it so I was really bummed about getting the zipper stuck and then off track. After spending a long time getting one side on, I went with the cut method and it was an easy fix. Thanks so much.

Wow! Thank you for your well-written instructions & photos! I was hoping to take a lap top bag with me this week. It was my daughter’s & I didn’t realize that the slide was off the zipper on one side. I found other pages on the Internet, but couldn’t understand them. Your’s was the best! The hardest part was making the cut because I have arthritis in my thumb. Kudos!!!

When zippers behave as You’ve described, it’s often because the part of the puller where the teeth are running through has opened up a little. Take a pair of pliers and squeeze the gap tighter again. Don’t squeeze to much as the teeth needs a little space to run through the puller, but in most cases this should do the trick! Works on any type of metal zipper, sadly not on plastic… 🙂

This article just saved myself from a very awkward day at work. My zipper on my dress pants just broke, but using your instructions, a closed office door, and scissors at my desk, I can now walk around the office! Thank you so much!

Thanks so much… I’ll be sharing this with a friend who said I had to replace the zipper to a pair of … not expensive shorts… but those comfy ones you just don’t want to give up… I said ‘For sure someone has an answer on google, it never lets me down … I see a post from someone who said ‘I’ve been using this method since the seventies’ But the difference is you took the time to share the answer. <3

You’re welcome Mia! You are so right that Google never lets you down. And yes, I am so happy to share this little tidbit. I believe that you should definitely pass on any information or skill that will help another person. You never know whose looking for a quick answer or how-to for solving a problem. Thanks for stopping by…

Is this type of zipper repair meant for trousers only. I have a bag that of which the zipper is no longer on the track so it has just remained open. I’d hate to possibly damage the bag’s zipper entirely, which is my hesitation for trying this trick to fix it

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, I am forever having this problem and have developed a pet hate for zippers, I spend a long time trying to force zippers back on even with long nose pliers :), This is so simple I wonder why I didn’t think of this already :).

If a zipper opens up on your jacket you can purchase new pulls. Just remove the stopper on one side of the zipper – slide the new pull on. Sew a stopper onto the top of the zipper to replace the stopper you removed and presto. These can be purchased at fabric stores in Canada and I am sure probably in the U.S. It really is that quick especially if the pull is plastic and you can’t tighten it.

This is how I use a zipper that is too long for a project. I cut it to the length I need and sew the bottom shut just like this project. I have to go 30 miles to find a fabric store to buy a zipper. I try to use what I have at home if possible. This trick works with the metal zippers quite well, but super easy with the nylon ones. I have been doing this for years!! Thank you for sharing it.

Visiting from your Feature on Dream a Little Bigger. (Congrats.) I am so happy your post was featured because I missed it, and this tutorial is fabulous! Where has this info. been all my life? It sure would have helped 2 weeks ago when I was safety-pinning the zipper of my daughter’s new dress minutes before Homecoming. Thank you for sharing!

This is so amazingly wodnerful. I’ve tossed jeans that had the PERFECT fit all because the zipper went wonky. To be honest, I only ever thought to replace it, not how to fix it! Featuring this as a favorite at Link It or Lump It tomorrow!Allison @ Dream a Little Bigger recently posted…Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Seed Recipe

Thanks Allison! It’s always the FAVORITE jeans that this happens, too. So, I’ve become an expert at this because I refuse to toss out my favorites. When I have plenty of time on my hands (which is not often), I go back and replace the zipper, but this definitely comes in handy…..

Thanks Bonnie! I always try to post at least one sewing-type post a month in hopes that it will be helpful to someone. I know what you mean by reading all day. Normally, I spend a lot of time reading posts at night, especially on the weekend.

I can’t tell you how many times I could’ve used this information especially a couple of times at work. I mean dang! That’s like soooo embarrassing. I always carry a little sewing package in my purse with a few safety pins, but still when you have no clue how to fix a zipper it’s like safety pin time, but then you sit down & they pop… all I can say girlfriend is thank you very much for this tip. This is wonderful. Have a great weekend.XmasDolly recently posted…Riddle me this into Flashback Friendly Friday

You’re welcome! I’ve tried the safety pin fix before and it definitely didn’t work for me either. It’s hard to figure out where to put the pin to fix the problem. And then you realize the pin thing just won’t work. Hopefully, this comes in handy for you….

Hi Sharon. Popping over from Let’s Get Real. I am not very good at mending or sewing, but you’ve made this seem quite simple. My kids are hard on clothes and we often have zipper trouble. This is a great solution to simply throwing it out which is what I normally do. : (Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life recently posted…Let’s Get Real Friday Party # 10 – Juggling Real Food and Real Life

Hi Christina! This is a pretty simple one to do. I would probably throw out stuff too but I’m so frugal and think that I can fix anything. Trust me, I’ve even tried fixing the refrigerator when it went out. Couldn’t solve that one though. Had to buy another fridge.

Hi Sharon! I always struggle with what to do with broken zippers. Thanks for sharing. I pinned this to my Pinterest board. I’ve visited your site before. Visiting today from Wine’d Down Wednesday!Kimberly H. Smith recently posted…Ghosts of Halloweens Past

Hi Sharen, thanks for the quick repair tip.
I have a tip to share about zippers. Ever have a zipper that opens up after you have zipped up your jacket or pants. Sometimes the problem is that the zipper slider is too loose. If you have a metal zipper there is a quick fix for it. Just get a pair of pliers and squeeze the slider opening that glides down the zippers teeth. This may even prevent your zipper from sliding off the track.
Have a great weekend.Darlene recently posted…Happiness is . . . Fresh Raspberries

Wow! This is fantastic! I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me….could you use this same method on a jacket? For me, this always happens on a coat or jacket. Thanks for sharing this wonderful tip at Four Seasons Blog Hop:) Lynn @ Turnips 2 TangerinesLynn H @ Turnips 2 Tangerines recently posted…Guest Posting on Memories by the Mile

Wow! This really is a great tip. This has happened in our family a few times and I have always had to wait to repair the whole thing. I have never tried to quick fix anything as I was always afraid that what I do might backfire on me. You have given me some confidence now.
Thank you so much for sharing this great tip!
Have a wonderful day 🙂
BismahBismah recently posted…Chocolate Truffles

Trackbacks

[…] There is a way to quickly fix broken zippers on jeans, jackets, and more. Take a look at this quick tutorial on fixing broken zippers and getting them back on track. How to Quickly Repair A Broken Zipper from Make it or Fix it. […]

[…] Zipper on the fritz? You are in luck! A broken zipper no longer means you have to ditch your favorite jeans, as there is a quick and easy fix to this common wardrobe malfunction. While only a temporary solution, this is a great way to secure your garment until you are able to get the zipper replaced. Especially if you find yourself in a pinch! A broken zipper may have at once seemed like a death wish for dresses and slacks alike, but not anymore. You can easily fix a broken zipper with a few items you probably have right in your home and some good old fashioned know-how. Click here to read full article […]

[…] give up. I knew that there had to be some sort of a solution to fix this. And there was! I found a tutorial on how to fix a broken zipper. It is quick easy and pretty free too! It takes maybe a minute to do […]